Ian and Danielle's game may have a deadly result for an innocent woman
Jason tells Daphne of an opportunity that could change her future
Julie finds it difficult to keep a secret from her family
... and Jonnie gets a chilling demonstration that there are no 'good guys' in the battle against the Nichols family.
I played a bit with the format for this episode, where we focus primarily on the younger crowd, with a slight detour into Jonnie's tense world. But in general this is a lighter episode than usual. (Bearing in mind that 'light' for ASF means, like, no actual death, emotional torture or disfigurement!) Here's a teaser:
Spoiler
“So do you think she's good enough for you?”
Ian Nichols looks across the dinner table at his half-sister, curious.*“What do you mean?”
“This Skyfalls skank you're seeing.” Stabbing a piece of broccoli with her fork, Becca uses it to describe a lazy figure eight in the air. “Is she good enough for you?*'Cause I don't think she is.”
“Yes, of course Daphne is ‘good enough’ for me, whatever that means. And don’t call her a skank. Do I insult your, uh, friends?”*Ian watches Becca pop the floret in her mouth, chomping away with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “What's your problem with her? Where’s this coming from?”
“I actually saw her in school the other day.*At Arleigh,” she adds, looking pointedly at her mother at the head of the long mahogany table.
Danielle Nichols pauses in the act of taking another sip of wine. She casts an amused glance at Ian.*“A high school girl?*Really, Ian?”
“She's of age,” Ian says irritably, though he’s pretty sure that’s not true. “Does it really matter?”
“I would think so. You were rarely interested in young girls even when you were that age yourself.” Danielle smiles, tapping her pearl-colored fingernails on her glass. “I can’t imagine some shallow schoolgirl would meet your standards.”
“I fail to see that it’s any of your business.*Or yours, “ Ian adds with a grimace at Becca.*“But for your information, Daphne is everything I could want.”
“She's apparently everything every guy could want,” Becca murmurs.
ASF's URL is http://www.skyfalls.com. As always, there's a printable version of the episode available on the site, and both a detailed previous episode recap and a quick summary that will remind you of stuff you need to know for this episode. And of course, we have easily accessed character bios so you can learn more about everyone you come across.
Please let me know your thoughts either here, on our mailing list. And don't forget to follow ASF on Twitter: @aboutSkyfalls. BTW, due to a spam attack, I've temporarily removed the feedback form at the end of this episode. It'll be back when I have time to create a more secure alternate version.
This episode actually didn't feel uncharacteristically light or anything. You're consistent as far as staying inside the characters' heads and mining their insecurities as they observe and interact with the world around them, and that's a very strong throughline. Jason has really come to life for me in this latest run of episodes; he's very relatable and could be a strong POV character for ASF as he matures. I also enjoyed the interplay between Julie and Tony, which kind of surprised me since they're not exactly at the center of your core cast. Julie's dilemma about leaving the restaurant makes her interesting to me, since it's the sort of thing we've all struggled with, and that sense of obligation toward loved ones -- to the detriment of what we actually want or need -- can define a person's adult years, too.
Ross is such a dick. I just do not like him! Not that he was in the wrong with what he was saying to Jonnie, but he's so brusque and condescending. It was good to be reminded of how Jonnie got into this mess, though. He's not exactly an innocent victim. One touch I enjoyed was the device of having Ross make references that went over Jonnie's head. These two aren't from the same sphere at all, so it makes perfect sense that it would manifest itself in their interactions.
I have to say that I'm a little tired of Danielle constantly making these moves on Ian, which he barely manages to rebuff. I'm eager for some movement on that front; I sort of feel like I've seen that scene (Danielle prodding him about Daphne, then trying to get into his pants) several times before. Interestingly, this was the story I'm probably the most 'settled into' of all the ones featured in this episode, and it was also probably the least engaging to me, just because of the repetition.
Oh God, I completely knew I was dipping into that Danielle/Ian well once too often, and that if anyone called me on it, it'd be you. If I were doing things over, I'd eliminate previous seduction attempts and stick with this one -- I needed certain things to happen to influence Danielle's later behavior. But the past is past, and you were bored now. So I'm sorry for being too indulgent here and not finding a different way to spur Danielle's subsequent actions once I knew I'd already played out a similar seduction scene. I did enjoy writing it, mainly 'cause Danielle's skeevy behavior is always a hoot to write (especially her incredibly inappropriate behavior in front of her own daughter), but if the audience doesn't enjoy it, it's el floppo as far as I'm concerned! I'll definitely keep this in mind and do a better job of following my editorial instincts, which totally told me I was being redundant.
Ha! I love that you're getting to dislike Ross. Finally he has a personality. He's really walking down a dangerous road, and obviously taking out his panicky reaction to the whole Clark deal on Jonnie, someone he can control. But it's not even just that; you probably don't remember this, since it was back in the last century, but Ross has felt deeply competitive with fellow ADA Alex, and is trying desperately to impress his boss and the voting public, since he one day plans to run for District Attorney himself. So he's forcing himself to get harder (pardon the double entendre) in order to rise in his field (ditto). And of course you're right that Jonnie's no innocent victim. Actually, what Ross didn't seem to notice is that Jonnie never claimed to be innocent. (Jonnie is an ASF rarity: someone who has no delusions about himself.)
Very very glad you seem to be enjoying the young folks on canvas. Jason's almost painful to write, he takes things so personally and is so very sensitive, but I'm looking forward to show his personality develop and emerge as his relationships with Julie and Becca continue. Re: the Fiores, it's hard to believe that they're almost my only intact family unit, not counting the absent mom, and there are so many of 'em that I haven't given the whole family much chance to interact. Mike is obviously the Fiore who's gotten the most screentime, with Tom falling a distant second; Julie's next, obviously. Carlo, Victor and Tony are still ciphers, I'm sure. I've been reluctant to show the second-string Fiores (i.e. everyone who isn't Mike) on their own, worried that the audience won't care about them. So your compliments about the Julie/Tony scenes, their being relatable and seeming realistic, mean a great deal to me. Since Victor's wedding is actually in spitting distance, these folks will be seen more and more often.
Thank you so much for reading and replying with your always thoughtful, honest feedback.
Oh God, I completely knew I was dipping into that Danielle/Ian well once too often, and that if anyone called me on it, it'd be you. If I were doing things over, I'd eliminate previous seduction attempts and stick with this one -- I needed certain things to happen to influence Danielle's later behavior. But the past is past, and you were bored now. So I'm sorry for being too indulgent here and not finding a different way to spur Danielle's subsequent actions once I knew I'd already played out a similar seduction scene. I did enjoy writing it, mainly 'cause Danielle's skeevy behavior is always a hoot to write (especially her incredibly inappropriate behavior in front of her own daughter), but if the audience doesn't enjoy it, it's el floppo as far as I'm concerned! I'll definitely keep this in mind and do a better job of following my editorial instincts, which totally told me I was being redundant.
Believe me, I understand. It's such a challenge to juggle the pacing of overlapping stories. You set something up, and you think it's been done and that'll do, but then something else takes forever to play out, and you wind up having to reiterate the original point or the next beat of the story won't play at all. I've had entire stories full of scenes like that, I swear. I did like the brazenness of Danielle's actions in this one -- I just feel like not much has happened with them since, well, their introduction. But I fully understand the practical reasons for keeping that thread alive.
I uh.... haven't read this series in awhile, I have to admit. But it's time I got caught up. I've missed it! It'll just make me miss writing CBay... it usually does!
Wow, Anthony! So glad to hear from you! The idea that reading ASF makes you miss writing your own stuff is a huge compliment, one of the greatest I can receive, so thank you very much!! Seriously, that just makes me kvell.
I don't know when you stopped reading, but if you want to catch up relatively quickly, you might want to use the season recaps, at least for seasons 1 and 2, and part of 3. Finish the third season with the full episodes, though, because the season enders are kinda worth it, if it's not too much hubris to say. But really, anything you read will be a-ok with me.
And if it spurs you on to write Covington Bay again? That'll be fabulous! I miss the hell outta CBay. Highly inspirational to me, right up there with Crescendo Cove and Dead Kelly. Great stuff. Please come back!
Actually, I picked up right where I left off and I pretty much remember the story. See, I can remember stuff like that. But ask me where I left my cell phone for the 50th time in a week and I'll draw a complete blank. I guess it's like that for the elderly.
Actually, I picked up right where I left off and I pretty much remember the story.
Cool. I'm sure it helps that the story is mighty...leisurely, shall we say.
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See, I can remember stuff like that. But ask me where I left my cell phone for the 50th time in a week and I'll draw a complete blank. I guess it's like that for the elderly.
Elderly? Elderly? 45 is the new 35, I'll have you know, young man! (Actually I have similar trouble with my wireless mouse. Those things need a homing beacon, I swear.) Anyway I will be very interested to hear your thoughts, if you feel like flinging 'em my way at some point. I have a feeling you might not dig it too much, as the tone changed significantly (got way darker) toward the middle-to-end of the third season. But all comments are welcome.
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